Pay It 4Ward: A Christmas surprise of warmth

There is a place where a Christmas miracle happened this year in Oklahoma.

Teacher Michelle Bland knows all about it.

She was beside herself. She knew record low temperatures were coming and some of her kids didn’t have coats to protect them from the bone chilling deep freeze.

“I posted that night how heartbroken I was that I would even have to think about my kids having to come to school the next day walking and standing in line for the bus in 5 degree weather. That’s all I said” Said Bland.

And then that’s when it happened.

Coats, dozens of them, brand new, delivered to the school. Enough to meet the needs of her class…and the whole school.

Jerry and Holly Muck brought the first 75.

Reza Koranki delivered more.

Others brought coats by the dozens.

Patty Duett said “It makes you warm inside that there are still people out there who care.”

Teacher Patty Duett’s students were among those given new coats. She was so touched she nominated all of the donors for our Pay It Forward Award sponsored by Spirit Bank.

“They’re selfless. They really do care there are people in the community that care about our students… They’re willing to help our students who really do need help.” Said Duett. ” And that’s the best kind of hero you can have.”

“Channel 4 along with Spirit Bank has a program called PI4. People nominate other folks they think went out of their way to make our world better. . And Patty, one of the teachers here nominated you guys for what you did with the coats. It brought her to tears. I want her to tell you why she nominated you…”

There were crayon thank-you nots from kids who’ll remember this holiday long after they’ve outgrown coats for the way it made them feel.